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A Knight's Tale (2001)
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Reviews Counted:33
Fresh:19
Rotten:14
Average Rating:5.7/10
Consensus: Once you get past the anachronism, A Knight's Tale becomes a predictable, if spirited, Rocky on horseback.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for action violence, some nudity and brief sex-related dialogue
Runtime: 2 hrs 24 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Theatrical Release:May 11, 2001 Wide
Box Office: $55,001,689
Synopsis: In the Middle Ages, before television or professional sports, there is only one form of competition to separate the men from the boys: jousting tournaments. William Thatcher (Heath Ledger), a poor... In the Middle Ages, before television or professional sports, there is only one form of competition to separate the men from the boys: jousting tournaments. William Thatcher (Heath Ledger), a poor and humble squire, has always dreamed of proving himself worthy as a knight. When he gets a lucky chance--seeing an opportunity to disguise himself in the identity of a knight--William decides to maintain the illusion for as long as possible. He is aided by his friends Wat, Roland, and Geoffrey Chaucer--a writer with a knack for forging official papers. Under his new title, Sir Ulrich of Liechtenstein, William wins tournaments and receives monetary awards. However, the only way for William to prove himself as truly noble is to beat out all of his enemies, including the arrogant and undefeated Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell), in a series of jousts. Once he does so, William will reveal his his true identity. Writer-director Brian Helgeland creates a unique blend of rousing adventure, comedy, and modern sensibility in A KNIGHT'S TALE, giving a contemporary make-over to the medieval genre with a soundtrack that includes hit songs from Queen, David Bowie, Sly & The Family Stone, and Thin Lizzy. [More]
Starring: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Paul Bettany, Shannyn Sossamon
Starring: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Paul Bettany, Shannyn Sossamon, Laura Fraser, Rufus Sewell, Christopher Cazenove, Alan Tudyk
Director: Brian Helgeland
Director: Brian Helgeland
Screenwriter: Curtis Hanson, Brian Helgeland
Composer: Carter Burwell
Studio: Columbia Pictures
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Release:
Jan 6, 2009
Reviews for A Knight's Tale
The result is half Python, half Ivanhoe -- and not as much fun as either.
Essentially, it's a screenful of pseudo-medieval popcorn that hits a high enough level of goofy fun to transcend a pretty blatant marketing strategy aimed at the MTV demographic.
May please aficionados of oldies stations and Xtreme sports but few others.
Basically a thrift-store bin of borrowed ideas and careworn teen cliches, A Knight's Tale executes one of the most drastic wastes of promise this side of a gifted high school slackoff.
Take it for what it is and you'll find it quite enjoyable, especially if you're a female between 9 and, oh, 79.
The results at best are highly uneven, but still interesting. At worst they are strained and repetitive. It all depends on your tolerance level towards gimmicks, and your desire level for something -- anything -- different.
By the time the big grudge match comes around and William and the no-account Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell) meet in center court, whatever charm and good humor were engendered by this adventure have long since worn off.
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